From 75f43c3e3d429c89b3f775728d26c8fef4c091f2 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Seb3thehacker <xnrcams3@anonaddy.me>
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2026 13:07:33 -0800
Subject: [PATCH] Launcher mode: Gearslip as the home screen of a head unit or
 a dash tablet

Turned on under Settings > Connection, Gearslip's car screen fills the device's own
display as its home app. An All apps page opens any other app full screen, Back and
a head unit's keys work the car UI, and Phone hides on devices that can't call.
Phones never see Gearslip offered as a home app unless it's switched on.
---
 gearslip/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml         |  20 +++
 .../app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/GearslipLog.kt |   6 +
 .../gearslip/LauncherActivity.kt              | 147 ++++++++++++++++++
 .../gearslip/car/AllAppsScreen.kt             |  65 ++++++++
 .../gearslip/car/AssistantCommands.kt         |   2 +-
 .../app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/CarApps.kt |  10 ++
 .../seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/CarLauncher.kt |   7 +-
 .../gearslip/car/CarSettingsScreen.kt         |   3 +-
 .../app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/CarUi.kt   |   7 +-
 .../gearslip/car/LauncherMode.kt              |  79 ++++++++++
 .../app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/NavApps.kt |  22 ++-
 .../gearslip/car/PhoneAppsScreen.kt           |   2 +-
 .../gearslip/ui/CarPreviewScreen.kt           | 142 ++++++++++-------
 .../gearslip/ui/HomeCarSettings.kt            |   8 +-
 .../gearslip/ui/SettingsScreen.kt             |  16 ++
 gearslip/src/main/res/values/strings.xml      |   6 +
 16 files changed, 476 insertions(+), 66 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/LauncherActivity.kt
 create mode 100644 gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/AllAppsScreen.kt
 create mode 100644 gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/LauncherMode.kt

diff --git a/gearslip/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml b/gearslip/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
index b9bd33f..df6e0e7 100644
--- a/gearslip/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/gearslip/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -160,6 +160,26 @@
 
         </activity>
 
+        <!--
+          Launcher mode: the car UI as this device's home screen, for a head unit that runs Android
+          or a tablet on the dash. Off until Settings turns it on (LauncherMode), so phones never
+          list Gearslip as a home app.
+        -->
+        <activity
+            android:name=".LauncherActivity"
+            android:enabled="false"
+            android:exported="true"
+            android:launchMode="singleTask"
+            android:excludeFromRecents="true"
+            android:screenOrientation="sensorLandscape"
+            android:configChanges="orientation|screenSize|screenLayout|smallestScreenSize|keyboardHidden|uiMode|density|locale|layoutDirection|fontScale">
+            <intent-filter>
+                <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
+                <category android:name="android.intent.category.HOME" />
+                <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
+            </intent-filter>
+        </activity>
+
         <!--
           Answers the car's USB connection on GearslipActivity's behalf. Kept apart from the
           activity so Settings can switch off just this (AppSettings.setGearslipEnabled) and leave
diff --git a/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/GearslipLog.kt b/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/GearslipLog.kt
index f82a6f3..0d49962 100644
--- a/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/GearslipLog.kt
+++ b/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/GearslipLog.kt
@@ -47,6 +47,8 @@ object GearslipLog {
     val version: StateFlow<Int> = liveVersion
 
     fun init(context: Context) {
+        // The phone app and the launcher both start here; one file per process.
+        if (file != null) return
         val dir = context.getExternalFilesDir(null) ?: return
         val name = SimpleDateFormat("yyyyMMdd-HHmmss", Locale.US).format(Date())
         file = File(dir, "gearslip-$name.log")
@@ -229,7 +231,11 @@ object GearslipLog {
      * Records an uncaught exception in the log file before the process dies, then lets the
      * system's own handler run. Without it the file ends mid-sentence and the reason is lost.
      */
+    @Volatile private var crashHandlerInstalled = false
+
     fun installCrashHandler() {
+        if (crashHandlerInstalled) return
+        crashHandlerInstalled = true
         val previous = Thread.getDefaultUncaughtExceptionHandler()
         Thread.setDefaultUncaughtExceptionHandler { thread, throwable ->
             runCatching {
diff --git a/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/LauncherActivity.kt b/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/LauncherActivity.kt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..07ab03c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/LauncherActivity.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
+package app.seb3thehacker.gearslip
+
+import android.content.Intent
+import android.content.res.Configuration
+import android.os.Bundle
+import android.view.KeyEvent
+import android.view.WindowManager
+import androidx.activity.ComponentActivity
+import androidx.activity.OnBackPressedCallback
+import androidx.activity.compose.setContent
+import androidx.compose.foundation.background
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Arrangement
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.BoxWithConstraints
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Column
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Spacer
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.fillMaxSize
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.height
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.padding
+import androidx.compose.material3.Button
+import androidx.compose.material3.MaterialTheme
+import androidx.compose.material3.Text
+import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
+import androidx.compose.runtime.DisposableEffect
+import androidx.compose.runtime.getValue
+import androidx.compose.ui.Alignment
+import androidx.compose.ui.Modifier
+import androidx.compose.ui.platform.LocalDensity
+import androidx.compose.ui.res.stringResource
+import androidx.compose.ui.text.style.TextAlign
+import androidx.compose.ui.unit.dp
+import androidx.core.view.WindowCompat
+import androidx.core.view.WindowInsetsCompat
+import androidx.core.view.WindowInsetsControllerCompat
+import androidx.lifecycle.compose.collectAsStateWithLifecycle
+import app.seb3thehacker.gearslip.car.CarEnvironment
+import app.seb3thehacker.gearslip.car.CarKeys
+import app.seb3thehacker.gearslip.car.CarSettings
+import app.seb3thehacker.gearslip.car.CarUi
+import app.seb3thehacker.gearslip.car.LauncherMode
+import app.seb3thehacker.gearslip.car.Prefetch
+import app.seb3thehacker.gearslip.ui.CarFrame
+import app.seb3thehacker.gearslip.ui.GearslipTheme
+import app.seb3thehacker.gearslip.ui.rememberCarProjector
+
+/**
+ * The home screen in launcher mode (see [LauncherMode]): the car UI, filling this device's own
+ * screen. It runs for as long as the activity lives, not only while it's in front, so a map
+ * keeps guiding and music keeps playing while another app is open over it.
+ */
+class LauncherActivity : ComponentActivity() {
+
+    override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
+        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
+        GearslipLog.init(this)
+        GearslipLog.installCrashHandler()
+        CarSettings.init(this)
+        CarKeys.init(this)
+        Prefetch.warm(this)
+        CarEnvironment.setPhoneTheme(resources.configuration)
+
+        // A dash screen is something to glance at: it stays on, with the system bars out of the way.
+        window.addFlags(WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_KEEP_SCREEN_ON)
+        WindowCompat.setDecorFitsSystemWindows(window, false)
+        WindowInsetsControllerCompat(window, window.decorView).apply {
+            systemBarsBehavior = WindowInsetsControllerCompat.BEHAVIOR_SHOW_TRANSIENT_BARS_BY_SWIPE
+            hide(WindowInsetsCompat.Type.systemBars())
+        }
+        // Back moves back in the car UI. A home screen has nowhere else to go back to.
+        onBackPressedDispatcher.addCallback(this, object : OnBackPressedCallback(true) {
+            override fun handleOnBackPressed() {
+                CarKeys.onKey(KeyEvent.KEYCODE_BACK, down = true, longPress = false)
+            }
+        })
+
+        setContent {
+            GearslipTheme {
+                LauncherScreen(onOpenGearslip = { startActivity(Intent(this, GearslipActivity::class.java)) })
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /** Home pressed while Gearslip is already the home screen: back to the car UI's Home. */
+    override fun onNewIntent(intent: Intent) {
+        super.onNewIntent(intent)
+        CarKeys.onKey(KeyEvent.KEYCODE_HOME, down = true, longPress = false)
+    }
+
+    override fun onConfigurationChanged(newConfig: Configuration) {
+        super.onConfigurationChanged(newConfig)
+        CarEnvironment.setPhoneTheme(newConfig)
+    }
+
+    /** A head unit's knob, D-pad and hard keys work the car UI the way a car's do. */
+    override fun dispatchKeyEvent(event: KeyEvent): Boolean {
+        if (event.keyCode != KeyEvent.KEYCODE_BACK && event.repeatCount == 0 &&
+            CarKeys.onKey(event.keyCode, event.action == KeyEvent.ACTION_DOWN, event.isLongPress)
+        ) return true
+        return super.dispatchKeyEvent(event)
+    }
+}
+
+@Composable
+private fun LauncherScreen(onOpenGearslip: () -> Unit) {
+    val status by SessionStatus.state.collectAsStateWithLifecycle()
+    // Plugged into a car, this device is the phone and the car UI belongs on the car's screen.
+    val inCar = status.phase == SessionStatus.Phase.CONNECTING || status.phase == SessionStatus.Phase.PROJECTING
+    if (inCar) {
+        InCarNotice(onOpenGearslip)
+        return
+    }
+    BoxWithConstraints(Modifier.fillMaxSize().background(MaterialTheme.colorScheme.background)) {
+        val px = with(LocalDensity.current) { maxWidth.roundToPx() / 2 * 2 to maxHeight.roundToPx() / 2 * 2 }
+        val (width, height) = px
+        if (width <= 0 || height <= 0) return@BoxWithConstraints
+        // Car-like text and buttons: 160dpi for every 480 pixels of height, as the car preview uses.
+        val density = (160 * height / 480).coerceIn(120, 640)
+        // Before the projector starts, so the car UI's first screen already knows what to hide.
+        DisposableEffect(Unit) {
+            LauncherMode.setActive(true)
+            onDispose { LauncherMode.setActive(false) }
+        }
+        val projector = rememberCarProjector(width, height, density, "gearslip-launcher") { CarUi() }
+        DisposableEffect(projector) {
+            CarKeys.focusSink = { code, down -> projector.dispatchKey(code, down) }
+            onDispose { CarKeys.focusSink = null }
+        }
+        CarFrame(projector, width, height, Modifier.fillMaxSize())
+    }
+}
+
+@Composable
+private fun InCarNotice(onOpenGearslip: () -> Unit) {
+    Column(
+        Modifier.fillMaxSize().background(MaterialTheme.colorScheme.background).padding(32.dp),
+        horizontalAlignment = Alignment.CenterHorizontally,
+        verticalArrangement = Arrangement.Center,
+    ) {
+        Text(
+            stringResource(R.string.launcher_in_car),
+            style = MaterialTheme.typography.titleLarge,
+            textAlign = TextAlign.Center,
+            color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onBackground,
+        )
+        Spacer(Modifier.height(16.dp))
+        Button(onClick = onOpenGearslip) { Text(stringResource(R.string.launcher_open_gearslip)) }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/AllAppsScreen.kt b/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/AllAppsScreen.kt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d6dc6fe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/AllAppsScreen.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+package app.seb3thehacker.gearslip.car
+
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Arrangement
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Column
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.PaddingValues
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Spacer
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.fillMaxSize
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.height
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.padding
+import androidx.compose.foundation.lazy.grid.GridCells
+import androidx.compose.foundation.lazy.grid.LazyVerticalGrid
+import androidx.compose.foundation.lazy.grid.items
+import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
+import androidx.compose.runtime.getValue
+import androidx.compose.runtime.produceState
+import androidx.compose.runtime.remember
+import androidx.compose.ui.graphics.asImageBitmap
+import androidx.compose.ui.Modifier
+import androidx.compose.ui.platform.LocalContext
+import androidx.compose.ui.res.stringResource
+import androidx.compose.ui.unit.dp
+import app.seb3thehacker.gearslip.R
+import app.seb3thehacker.gearslip.mirror.PhoneApp
+import app.seb3thehacker.gearslip.mirror.PhoneApps
+import androidx.core.graphics.drawable.toBitmap
+import kotlinx.coroutines.Dispatchers
+import kotlinx.coroutines.withContext
+
+/**
+ * Launcher mode's app drawer: every app on the device, A to Z, each opened full screen. Gearslip
+ * comes first, for its own settings, which the car UI only partly covers.
+ */
+@Composable
+fun AllAppsScreen() {
+    val context = LocalContext.current
+    val apps by produceState(initialValue = PhoneApps.cached() ?: emptyList(), context) {
+        value = PhoneApps.cached() ?: withContext(Dispatchers.IO) { PhoneApps.installed(context).also { PhoneApps.warm(context) } }
+    }
+    val gearslip = remember(context) {
+        val label = context.packageManager.getApplicationLabel(context.applicationInfo).toString()
+        val icon = runCatching { context.packageManager.getApplicationIcon(context.packageName).toBitmap(ICON_PX, ICON_PX).asImageBitmap() }
+        PhoneApp(context.packageName, label, icon.getOrNull())
+    }
+
+    Column(Modifier.fillMaxSize().padding(start = 20.dp, end = 20.dp, top = 12.dp)) {
+        ScreenHeader(stringResource(R.string.app_all_apps))
+        Spacer(Modifier.height(12.dp))
+        LazyVerticalGrid(
+            columns = GridCells.Adaptive(minSize = 108.dp),
+            modifier = Modifier.fillMaxSize(),
+            contentPadding = PaddingValues(bottom = 16.dp),
+            horizontalArrangement = Arrangement.spacedBy(12.dp),
+            verticalArrangement = Arrangement.spacedBy(12.dp),
+        ) {
+            item {
+                PhoneAppTile(gearslip) { LauncherMode.launch(context, context.packageName) }
+            }
+            items(apps.sortedBy { it.label.lowercase() }) { app ->
+                PhoneAppTile(app) { LauncherMode.launch(context, app.packageName) }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+private const val ICON_PX = 128
diff --git a/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/AssistantCommands.kt b/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/AssistantCommands.kt
index e734a22..5fdd0b5 100644
--- a/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/AssistantCommands.kt
+++ b/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/AssistantCommands.kt
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ object AssistantCommands {
 
     private suspend fun allEntries(context: Context): List<Entry> {
         val vehicleData = CarSettings.experimentalFeaturesEnabled.value && CarSettings.carSensorsEnabled.value
-        val builtIn = BuiltInApps.entries.filter { it.builtIn !== BuiltInApps.VehicleData || vehicleData }
+        val builtIn = BuiltInApps.entries(LauncherMode.active.value, LauncherMode.canCall(context)).filter { it.builtIn !== BuiltInApps.VehicleData || vehicleData }
         return builtIn + (LauncherCache.entries ?: withContext(Dispatchers.IO) { LauncherCache.load(context) })
     }
 
diff --git a/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/CarApps.kt b/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/CarApps.kt
index 07d92f9..429df95 100644
--- a/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/CarApps.kt
+++ b/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/CarApps.kt
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package app.seb3thehacker.gearslip.car
 import androidx.annotation.StringRes
 import app.seb3thehacker.gearslip.R
 import androidx.compose.material.icons.Icons
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.List
 import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.Call
 import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.Search
 import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.Share
@@ -38,7 +39,16 @@ object CarApps {
         CarApp("settings", "Settings", R.string.settings_title, Icons.Filled.Settings) {
             CarSettingsScreen()
         },
+        CarApp("allapps", "All apps", R.string.app_all_apps, Icons.Filled.List) {
+            AllAppsScreen()
+        },
     )
 
     fun find(id: String): CarApp? = all.firstOrNull { it.id == id }
+
+    /** The screens [BuiltInApps.entries] offers here, so a choice list never names a hidden one. */
+    fun shown(launcher: Boolean, canCall: Boolean): List<CarApp> {
+        val ids = BuiltInApps.entries(launcher, canCall).mapNotNull { (it.builtIn?.screen as? CarScreen.App)?.id }.toSet()
+        return all.filter { it.id in ids }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/CarLauncher.kt b/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/CarLauncher.kt
index e4a00e0..788d63a 100644
--- a/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/CarLauncher.kt
+++ b/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/CarLauncher.kt
@@ -185,10 +185,13 @@ private fun tilesFor(
 internal fun rememberAllEntries(): List<Entry> {
     val context = LocalContext.current
     val installed by LauncherCache.state.collectAsState()
+    val launcher by LauncherMode.active.collectAsState()
     LaunchedEffect(context) {
         if (LauncherCache.entries == null) withContext(Dispatchers.IO) { LauncherCache.load(context) }
     }
-    return remember(installed) { BuiltInApps.entries + installed.orEmpty() }
+    return remember(installed, launcher) {
+        BuiltInApps.entries(launcher, LauncherMode.canCall(context)) + installed.orEmpty()
+    }
 }
 
 /** The launcher's groups, in the order they're laid out. */
@@ -240,7 +243,7 @@ internal fun launcherOrder(all: List<Entry>, showVehicleData: Boolean, custom: L
 
 /** An app by the id a pin or the running list knows it by, built-in or installed. */
 internal fun findEntry(id: String): Entry? =
-    BuiltInApps.entries.find { it.componentId == id } ?: LauncherCache.entries?.find { it.componentId == id }
+    BuiltInApps.everyEntry.find { it.componentId == id } ?: LauncherCache.entries?.find { it.componentId == id }
 
 /** Rescans the car and media apps now, replacing the cached list; the launcher keeps showing the old one meanwhile. */
 fun warmLauncherApps(context: Context) { LauncherCache.load(context, force = true) }
diff --git a/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/CarSettingsScreen.kt b/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/CarSettingsScreen.kt
index 0457f89..4c8cb94 100644
--- a/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/CarSettingsScreen.kt
+++ b/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/CarSettingsScreen.kt
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ import kotlinx.coroutines.withContext
 fun CarSettingsScreen() {
     val scale by CarSettings.scale.collectAsState()
     val open by CarSettings.openOnConnect.collectAsState()
+    val launcher by LauncherMode.active.collectAsState()
     val night by CarSettings.nightMode.collectAsState()
     val units by CarSettings.units.collectAsState()
     val navBar by CarSettings.navBarMode.collectAsState()
@@ -109,7 +110,7 @@ fun CarSettingsScreen() {
             if (section == chosen) item {
                 ChoiceRow(
                     stringResource(R.string.car_open_on_connect),
-                    listOf(CarSettings.HOME to stringResource(R.string.choice_open_home)) + CarApps.all.filter { it.id != "settings" }.map { it.id to stringResource(it.labelRes) },
+                    listOf(CarSettings.HOME to stringResource(R.string.choice_open_home)) + CarApps.shown(launcher, LauncherMode.canCall(context)).map { it.id to stringResource(it.labelRes) },
                     open,
                 ) { CarSettings.setOpenOnConnect(it) }
             }
diff --git a/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/CarUi.kt b/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/CarUi.kt
index ad404e7..4666f86 100644
--- a/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/CarUi.kt
+++ b/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/CarUi.kt
@@ -125,7 +125,12 @@ fun CarUi() {
     val colors = (if (dark) dynamicDarkColorScheme(appContext) else dynamicLightColorScheme(appContext)).withTintedSurfaces(dark, darkStyle)
     val base = LocalDensity.current
     val insets by CarEnvironment.insets.collectAsState()
-    val navigator = remember { CarNavigator(CarSettings.openOnConnect.value) }
+    val navigator = remember {
+        // A start screen picked for the car may be one launcher mode hides, like Screen sharing.
+        val start = CarSettings.openOnConnect.value
+        val shown = CarApps.shown(LauncherMode.active.value, LauncherMode.canCall(appContext)).any { it.id == start }
+        CarNavigator(if (shown) start else CarSettings.HOME)
+    }
     val controlsWake = remember { MapControlsWake() }
     LaunchedEffect(controlsWake) {
         while (true) {
diff --git a/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/LauncherMode.kt b/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/LauncherMode.kt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7991db2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/LauncherMode.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+package app.seb3thehacker.gearslip.car
+
+import android.app.ActivityOptions
+import android.content.ComponentName
+import android.content.Context
+import android.content.Intent
+import android.content.pm.PackageManager
+import android.os.Build
+import android.provider.Settings
+import android.view.Display
+import app.seb3thehacker.gearslip.GearslipLog
+import app.seb3thehacker.gearslip.LauncherActivity
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.MutableStateFlow
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.StateFlow
+
+/**
+ * Gearslip as the home screen of the device it runs on: a head unit that runs Android itself, or
+ * a spare phone or tablet on the dash. The car UI fills the device's own screen, with no car in
+ * between. Off until it's turned on in Settings, so a phone never lists Gearslip as a home app.
+ */
+object LauncherMode {
+
+    private val _active = MutableStateFlow(false)
+
+    /** The car UI is up on this device's own screen, as its home screen. */
+    val active: StateFlow<Boolean> = _active
+
+    internal fun setActive(on: Boolean) {
+        _active.value = on
+    }
+
+    private fun component(context: Context) = ComponentName(context, LauncherActivity::class.java)
+
+    /** Whether Android may offer Gearslip as the home app. */
+    fun enabled(context: Context): Boolean =
+        context.packageManager.getComponentEnabledSetting(component(context)) ==
+            PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED
+
+    fun setEnabled(context: Context, on: Boolean) {
+        context.packageManager.setComponentEnabledSetting(
+            component(context),
+            if (on) PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED else PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_DISABLED,
+            PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP,
+        )
+        GearslipLog.i("launcher mode ${if (on) "on" else "off"}")
+    }
+
+    /** Android's own "Default home app" choice, where Gearslip is picked once it's offered. */
+    fun openHomeChoice(context: Context) {
+        runCatching {
+            context.startActivity(Intent(Settings.ACTION_HOME_SETTINGS).addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK))
+        }.onFailure { GearslipLog.w("launcher mode: no home app settings on this device (${it.message})") }
+    }
+
+    /** Head units and most tablets have no phone of their own to call with. */
+    fun canCall(context: Context): Boolean {
+        val feature = if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.TIRAMISU) {
+            PackageManager.FEATURE_TELEPHONY_CALLING
+        } else {
+            @Suppress("DEPRECATION")
+            PackageManager.FEATURE_TELEPHONY
+        }
+        return context.packageManager.hasSystemFeature(feature)
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Opens an ordinary app full screen, Gearslip's own phone screens included. The car UI lives
+     * on a display of its own, and a context from it would start the app there, which Android
+     * refuses; the application context and the device's own display put it on the real screen.
+     */
+    fun launch(context: Context, packageName: String) {
+        val app = context.applicationContext
+        val intent = app.packageManager.getLaunchIntentForPackage(packageName) ?: return
+        intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK)
+        val options = ActivityOptions.makeBasic().setLaunchDisplayId(Display.DEFAULT_DISPLAY)
+        runCatching { app.startActivity(intent, options.toBundle()) }
+            .onFailure { GearslipLog.w("launcher mode: couldn't open $packageName (${it.message})") }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/NavApps.kt b/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/NavApps.kt
index ee8409f..97cf4b9 100644
--- a/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/NavApps.kt
+++ b/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/NavApps.kt
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.size
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.widthIn
 import androidx.compose.foundation.shape.RoundedCornerShape
 import androidx.compose.material.icons.Icons
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.List
 import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.Call
 import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.Info
 import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.Search
@@ -83,11 +84,28 @@ internal object BuiltInApps {
     val VehicleData = BuiltInApp("vehicle", "Vehicle data", R.string.car_vehicle_data, Icons.Filled.Info, CarScreen.VehicleData) { it.vehicleData() }
     val Settings = BuiltInApp("settings", "Settings", R.string.settings_title, Icons.Filled.Settings, CarScreen.Settings) { it.settings() }
 
+    /** Launcher mode only: every app on the device, opened full screen. */
+    val AllApps = BuiltInApp("allapps", "All apps", R.string.app_all_apps, Icons.Filled.List, CarScreen.App("allapps")) { it.open("allapps") }
+
     /** Hands the screen back to the car's own interface, like Android Auto's Exit. */
     val Exit = BuiltInApp("exit", "Exit", R.string.app_exit, CarGlyph, screen = null) { CarFocus.exitToCar() }
 
-    val all = listOf(Web, ScreenSharing, Phone, VehicleData, Settings, Exit)
-    val entries: List<Entry> = all.map { Entry(it.label, icon = null, builtIn = it) }
+    val all = listOf(Web, ScreenSharing, Phone, VehicleData, Settings, Exit, AllApps)
+    private val byApp = all.associateWith { Entry(it.label, icon = null, builtIn = it) }
+    val everyEntry: List<Entry> = byApp.values.toList()
+
+    /**
+     * The ones that make sense where the car UI is showing. As a device's own home screen there
+     * is no car to share the screen with or exit to, and no phone line on most head units.
+     */
+    fun entries(launcher: Boolean, canCall: Boolean): List<Entry> = byApp.filterKeys { app ->
+        when (app) {
+            AllApps -> launcher
+            ScreenSharing, Exit -> !launcher
+            Phone -> !launcher || canCall
+            else -> true
+        }
+    }.values.toList()
 }
 
 /** The name a driver sees: translated for Gearslip's own apps, the app's own name otherwise. */
diff --git a/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/PhoneAppsScreen.kt b/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/PhoneAppsScreen.kt
index 37c1a82..321c605 100644
--- a/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/PhoneAppsScreen.kt
+++ b/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/car/PhoneAppsScreen.kt
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ private fun TouchRelayWarning() {
 }
 
 @Composable
-private fun PhoneAppTile(app: PhoneApp, onClick: () -> Unit) {
+internal fun PhoneAppTile(app: PhoneApp, onClick: () -> Unit) {
     GsIconBox(
         onClick = onClick,
         modifier = Modifier.height(120.dp),
diff --git a/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/ui/CarPreviewScreen.kt b/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/ui/CarPreviewScreen.kt
index 9e228ba..01cdd8e 100644
--- a/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/ui/CarPreviewScreen.kt
+++ b/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/ui/CarPreviewScreen.kt
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import androidx.compose.material3.Scaffold
 import androidx.compose.material3.Text
 import androidx.compose.material3.TextButton
 import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
+import androidx.compose.runtime.CompositionLocalProvider
 import androidx.compose.runtime.DisposableEffect
 import androidx.compose.runtime.getValue
 import androidx.compose.runtime.mutableStateOf
@@ -60,7 +61,6 @@ import app.seb3thehacker.gearslip.car.CarUi
 fun CarPreviewScreen(onBack: () -> Unit) {
     val context = LocalContext.current
     val frame by CarEnvironment.frame.collectAsStateWithLifecycle()
-    var viewSize by remember { mutableStateOf(0 to 0) }
     // Tied to how the phone itself is held, not a button: turn it sideways and the preview goes
     // fullscreen, turn it back and the phone's own chrome (the Back/title above the frame) returns.
     val fullscreen = LocalConfiguration.current.orientation == Configuration.ORIENTATION_LANDSCAPE
@@ -69,8 +69,6 @@ fun CarPreviewScreen(onBack: () -> Unit) {
     val custom by app.seb3thehacker.gearslip.car.CarSettings.previewCustom.collectAsStateWithLifecycle()
     val (width, height, density) = previewFrame(context, frame, previewSize, custom)
 
-    val projector = remember { ScreenProjector(context) }
-
     // The preview is something to watch, like a map on a dash mount, so the phone stays awake on
     // it. Only here: the flag goes with this screen, and every other screen sleeps as usual.
     val view = androidx.compose.ui.platform.LocalView.current
@@ -79,64 +77,20 @@ fun CarPreviewScreen(onBack: () -> Unit) {
         onDispose { view.keepScreenOn = false }
     }
 
-    DisposableEffect(width, height, density) {
-        CarEnvironment.start(context)
-        // No surface yet: the SurfaceView below hands its own over once it exists, and the
-        // display draws straight into it. Copying each frame into a Bitmap instead cost two
-        // full-size allocations per frame on the main thread, and taps lagged with the size.
-        projector.start(null, width, height, density, name = "gearslip-preview") {
-            androidx.compose.runtime.CompositionLocalProvider(app.seb3thehacker.gearslip.car.LocalCarPreview provides true) { CarUi() }
-        }
-        onDispose { projector.stop() }
+    // A launcher already shows the car UI on this screen, and two of it can't run at once.
+    val launcher by app.seb3thehacker.gearslip.car.LauncherMode.active.collectAsStateWithLifecycle()
+
+    // Held here, not in the frame, so turning the phone between the two layouts keeps the car UI running.
+    val projector = if (launcher) null else rememberCarProjector(width, height, density, "gearslip-preview") {
+        CompositionLocalProvider(app.seb3thehacker.gearslip.car.LocalCarPreview provides true) { CarUi() }
     }
 
     // The frame is drawn the same way in both layouts; only what surrounds it differs.
     val frameContent: @Composable (Modifier) -> Unit = { modifier ->
-        Box(
-            modifier
-                .aspectRatio(width.toFloat() / height)
-                .background(Color.Black)
-                .onSizeChanged { viewSize = it.width to it.height }
-                .pointerInteropFilter { event ->
-                    val (viewWidth, viewHeight) = viewSize
-                    if (viewWidth > 0 && viewHeight > 0) {
-                        projector.dispatchTouch(
-                            event.actionMasked.toCarAction(),
-                            event.actionIndex,
-                            List(event.pointerCount) { i ->
-                                TouchPoint(
-                                    event.getPointerId(i),
-                                    event.getX(i) * width / viewWidth,
-                                    event.getY(i) * height / viewHeight,
-                                )
-                            },
-                        )
-                    }
-                    true
-                },
-            contentAlignment = Alignment.Center,
-        ) {
-            androidx.compose.runtime.key(width, height) {
-                androidx.compose.ui.viewinterop.AndroidView(
-                    factory = { viewContext ->
-                        android.view.SurfaceView(viewContext).apply {
-                            // The car's own size; the compositor scales it to the view.
-                            holder.setFixedSize(width, height)
-                            holder.addCallback(object : android.view.SurfaceHolder.Callback {
-                                override fun surfaceCreated(holder: android.view.SurfaceHolder) =
-                                    projector.setSurface(holder.surface)
-
-                                override fun surfaceChanged(holder: android.view.SurfaceHolder, format: Int, w: Int, h: Int) =
-                                    projector.setSurface(holder.surface)
-
-                                override fun surfaceDestroyed(holder: android.view.SurfaceHolder) =
-                                    projector.setSurface(null)
-                            })
-                        }
-                    },
-                    modifier = Modifier.fillMaxSize(),
-                )
-            }
+        if (projector == null) {
+            Text("Gearslip is this device's home screen, so the car UI is already showing there.", modifier)
+        } else {
+            CarFrame(projector, width, height, modifier.aspectRatio(width.toFloat() / height))
         }
     }
 
@@ -171,6 +125,80 @@ fun CarPreviewScreen(onBack: () -> Unit) {
     }
 }
 
+/**
+ * Runs [content] on a virtual display [width] x [height] pixels big, the way the car gets it,
+ * until it leaves the composition. [CarFrame] shows it.
+ */
+@Composable
+internal fun rememberCarProjector(width: Int, height: Int, density: Int, name: String, content: @Composable () -> Unit): ScreenProjector {
+    val context = LocalContext.current
+    val projector = remember { ScreenProjector(context) }
+    val latestContent by androidx.compose.runtime.rememberUpdatedState(content)
+    DisposableEffect(width, height, density) {
+        CarEnvironment.start(context)
+        // No surface yet: the SurfaceView in CarFrame hands its own over once it exists, and the
+        // display draws straight into it. Copying each frame into a Bitmap instead cost two
+        // full-size allocations per frame on the main thread, and taps lagged with the size.
+        projector.start(null, width, height, density, name = name) { latestContent() }
+        onDispose { projector.stop() }
+    }
+    return projector
+}
+
+/**
+ * The [projector]'s display through a SurfaceView, with touches scaled back to the frame's own
+ * [width] x [height]. The car preview letterboxes it; launcher mode fills the screen with it.
+ */
+@Composable
+internal fun CarFrame(projector: ScreenProjector, width: Int, height: Int, modifier: Modifier) {
+    var viewSize by remember { mutableStateOf(0 to 0) }
+    Box(
+        modifier
+            .background(Color.Black)
+            .onSizeChanged { viewSize = it.width to it.height }
+            .pointerInteropFilter { event ->
+                val (viewWidth, viewHeight) = viewSize
+                if (viewWidth > 0 && viewHeight > 0) {
+                    projector.dispatchTouch(
+                        event.actionMasked.toCarAction(),
+                        event.actionIndex,
+                        List(event.pointerCount) { i ->
+                            TouchPoint(
+                                event.getPointerId(i),
+                                event.getX(i) * width / viewWidth,
+                                event.getY(i) * height / viewHeight,
+                            )
+                        },
+                    )
+                }
+                true
+            },
+        contentAlignment = Alignment.Center,
+    ) {
+        androidx.compose.runtime.key(width, height) {
+            androidx.compose.ui.viewinterop.AndroidView(
+                factory = { viewContext ->
+                    android.view.SurfaceView(viewContext).apply {
+                        // The car's own size; the compositor scales it to the view.
+                        holder.setFixedSize(width, height)
+                        holder.addCallback(object : android.view.SurfaceHolder.Callback {
+                            override fun surfaceCreated(holder: android.view.SurfaceHolder) =
+                                projector.setSurface(holder.surface)
+
+                            override fun surfaceChanged(holder: android.view.SurfaceHolder, format: Int, w: Int, h: Int) =
+                                projector.setSurface(holder.surface)
+
+                            override fun surfaceDestroyed(holder: android.view.SurfaceHolder) =
+                                projector.setSurface(null)
+                        })
+                    }
+                },
+                modifier = Modifier.fillMaxSize(),
+            )
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 /**
  * Fills the phone screen with [content], centred and letterboxed.
  *
diff --git a/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/ui/HomeCarSettings.kt b/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/ui/HomeCarSettings.kt
index 91d79b7..8987df9 100644
--- a/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/ui/HomeCarSettings.kt
+++ b/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/ui/HomeCarSettings.kt
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import androidx.compose.runtime.collectAsState
 import androidx.compose.runtime.getValue
 import androidx.compose.runtime.mutableStateOf
 import androidx.compose.runtime.remember
+import androidx.compose.ui.platform.LocalContext
 import androidx.compose.runtime.setValue
 import androidx.compose.ui.Alignment
 import androidx.compose.ui.Modifier
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ import androidx.compose.ui.text.font.FontWeight
 import androidx.compose.ui.unit.dp
 import app.seb3thehacker.gearslip.car.AppTheme
 import app.seb3thehacker.gearslip.car.CarApps
+import app.seb3thehacker.gearslip.car.LauncherMode
 import app.seb3thehacker.gearslip.car.CarSettings
 import app.seb3thehacker.gearslip.car.NavBarMode
 import app.seb3thehacker.gearslip.car.NightMode
@@ -73,7 +75,11 @@ private fun navBarChoices() = listOf(
     NavBarMode.HIDE to stringResource(R.string.choice_nav_hide),
 )
 @Composable
-private fun openChoices() = listOf(CarSettings.HOME to stringResource(R.string.choice_open_home)) + CarApps.all.filter { it.id != "settings" }.map { it.id to stringResource(it.labelRes) }
+private fun openChoices(): List<Pair<String, String>> {
+    val context = LocalContext.current
+    val apps = remember(context) { CarApps.shown(LauncherMode.enabled(context), LauncherMode.canCall(context)) }
+    return listOf(CarSettings.HOME to stringResource(R.string.choice_open_home)) + apps.map { it.id to stringResource(it.labelRes) }
+}
 
 /**
  * The car's settings on the phone's home screen: one card per group with a summary of where it
diff --git a/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/ui/SettingsScreen.kt b/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/ui/SettingsScreen.kt
index a48b6f7..3601398 100644
--- a/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/ui/SettingsScreen.kt
+++ b/gearslip/src/main/java/app/seb3thehacker/gearslip/ui/SettingsScreen.kt
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package app.seb3thehacker.gearslip.ui
 import androidx.compose.ui.res.stringResource
 import androidx.compose.ui.res.vectorResource
 import app.seb3thehacker.gearslip.R
+import app.seb3thehacker.gearslip.car.LauncherMode
 import androidx.compose.runtime.withFrameNanos
 import android.net.Uri
 import androidx.activity.compose.rememberLauncherForActivityResult
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@ import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.KeyboardArrowDown
 import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.KeyboardArrowUp
 import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.Lock
 import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.Refresh
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.Home
 import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.Settings
 import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.Star
 import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.Warning
@@ -230,6 +232,20 @@ private fun ConnectionSection() {
             icon = Icons.Filled.Settings,
             trailing = { Switch(checked = enabled, onCheckedChange = null) },
         )
+        // For a head unit or a tablet on the dash: the car UI becomes the device's home screen.
+        var launcher by remember { mutableStateOf(LauncherMode.enabled(context)) }
+        SettingsRow(
+            stringResource(R.string.settings_use_as_launcher),
+            Modifier.toggleable(launcher, role = Role.Switch) {
+                launcher = it
+                LauncherMode.setEnabled(context, it)
+                // Android doesn't switch home apps by itself; this is where the driver picks Gearslip.
+                if (it) LauncherMode.openHomeChoice(context)
+            },
+            subtitle = stringResource(if (launcher) R.string.settings_use_as_launcher_on else R.string.settings_use_as_launcher_off),
+            icon = Icons.Filled.Home,
+            trailing = { Switch(checked = launcher, onCheckedChange = null) },
+        )
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/gearslip/src/main/res/values/strings.xml b/gearslip/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
index 8749c21..7a02d2d 100644
--- a/gearslip/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/gearslip/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -864,6 +864,12 @@
     <string name="status_no_car_graphene">The phone is charging, but no car has answered. Check that USB-C port control, under Security &amp; privacy, allows data and isn\'t set to Charging-only.</string>
     <string name="status_stuck_cable">The car hasn\'t shown Gearslip yet. Unplug the cable, wait a few seconds, and plug it back in. If it keeps happening, try another cable or USB port, and share the log in an issue.</string>
     <string name="status_stuck_wireless">The car hasn\'t shown Gearslip yet. Turn the car off and on again, or connect with a cable. If it keeps happening, share the log in an issue.</string>
+    <string name="settings_use_as_launcher">Use as launcher</string>
+    <string name="settings_use_as_launcher_off">For a head unit or a tablet on the dash. Gearslip\'s car screen becomes this device\'s home screen.</string>
+    <string name="settings_use_as_launcher_on">Gearslip can be this device\'s home screen. Pick it under Default home app.</string>
+    <string name="app_all_apps">All apps</string>
+    <string name="launcher_in_car">This device is connected to a car, so Gearslip is on the car\'s screen.</string>
+    <string name="launcher_open_gearslip">Open Gearslip</string>
     <string name="status_open_settings">Open settings</string>
     <string name="status_connecting">Connecting</string>
     <string name="status_projecting">Projecting</string>